Reviewing Toys

Barbie’s Malibu dream house was really built down in Malibu and just for her birthday Mattel, the toy company that launched her, went down and decorated it all up.

Celebrities were invited to the big birthday bash yesterday, Heidi Klum, Dejay AM, Colin Cowie and many others were there to help her celebrate. A few others that showed up were: Ally & AJ, Kourtney & Khloe Kardashian, Lauren Conrad, Melissa Joan Hart and Alison Sweeney. By the way there was even a runway that was full of pink, the fountain had 3000 pink apples in it. There was even a blonde wig chandelier.

The house stands at 3,500 square feet and it overlooks the Pacific Ocean, now Ken seems to be missing in action so he’s probably hanging in the surf with those Malibu beach babes. One room has 50 pairs on pink heels, another has 25 vintage Barbie dolls and of course her pink Volkswagen beetle. As for her pool, I’m sure it’s there too, if not there’s definitely a beach nearby.

To see more pics from the Barbie party you can visit Jeneration PR on twitter.

IMG: Found it in google search.

If you can’t seem to find the $3 50th Anniversary Barbie at ToysRus you can order yourself the My Favorite Barbie: The Original Teenage Fashion Model Barbie Doll , for $39.99.

At this price you will get the original Barbie with her hair pulled back, wearing a striped zebra bathing suit and sunglasses. She also comes with her own microphone, black gown and gloves and her own album.

Now Barbie can definitely celebrate her birthday in style and afterwards head down to the beach. Happy Birthday Barbie, may you have many more.

The new 2009 Barbie souvenir doll is currently being sold at ToysRus for $3. This is there way of saying Happy Birthday to Barbie, they state that is is the same price she was back in 1959. After Barbie’s birthday the price of the doll will be $12.99. Currently if you can find this one at the store you and one other guest can get her for $3 each.

ToysRus.com has the doll but she’s currently out of stock, however you can be put on a mailing list for when she is back in stock you can order her. Hurry though, she is selling out everywhere pretty quickly.

It’s too bad we can’t get her mate, Ken for the same price right?

Did you know Barbie is actually celebrating her 50th Anniversary today?  Barbie was created back in 1959, actually that is when she was launched. The creator of the Barbie Doll was actually a woman named Ruth Handler, she was inspired by a doll called Bild Lilli. The doll was named after her daughter, Barbara.  Course I don’t think she ever would’ve pictured how far Barbie would come and go, or that she would be paired up with a man that would later dump her for a younger model.

Barbie has definitely had a few lifts over the years and tons of outfits, cars, pets and friends. But the one thing that tended to stay the same was her blonde hair, granted there were other Friends that had different hair colors and styles but she would not.

Barbie would make her public debut at her very first Toy Fair in New York the same year she was launched.  Barbie’s first outfit, was a black and white zebra bathing suit. Over the years she’d wear bikini tops and bottoms, regular swimsuits, shorts, skirts and dresses. It would be a year later before Barbie would get a home and a year after that would she meet Ken.

With all that being stated many of us are going back and remembering the times we had with Barbie. Even if it was a short time in our life, Barbie meant something to many of us. Even guys can remember the times when their sisters would run into their room, lock their doors and play with their precious friends.

Currently ToysRUs is selling the 50th Anniversary doll for $3, but you’ll have to hurry before they sell out. Stila Cosmetics.com is also celebrating Barbie’s birthday and wants you to save money on her Birthday. Simply head over to Spoiled Pretty and click on Barbie’s Birthday, you’ll go to a site where you enter coupon code BIRTHDAY, you will need to order one of the items but you also get FREE Shipping.

So how will you celebrate Barbie’s birthday? 

Over at Hotel Chocolat they are giving their hotel guests one unique item, the Loves Barbie chocolates in honor to celebrate the 50th Anniversary. Want one?

Inside each box has 8 different chocolates with the Barbie silhoutte. Here’s the flavors:

Hazelnut - Naturally coloured, vibrant pink white chocolate with a smooth milk chocolate and hazelnut praline filling.

Milk Chocolate - Naturally coloured, powder pink white chocolate with a silky 40% cocoa milk chocolate filling.

Strawberry - Naturally coloured, soft pink white chocolate with a fresh and fruity strawberry crème filling.

Vanilla - Silky smooth, creamy white chocolate made with lots of cocoa butter and Madagascan vanilla.

Don’t these sound scrumptious? Here’s the link to the hotel page for Loves Barbie, you can even order one yourself.  Happy Birthday Barbie!

Another item has been recalled this week and this time it isn’t really a toy, but something kids will probably have in their closet…. flip flops. This is a voluntary recall, so it is more of a warning to those that have them.

The flip flops are geared towards children and made by Alpargatas USA Inc, of New York, NY. There were around 210,000 made.

Why the recall? Lead paint is on the flip flops where the designs are. No child has chocked on them or reportedly ate the shoes but they are trying to be safe. There are more designs, including floral, clowns, ets. Check out the pic to see if you have some in your closet.

IMG: Cpsc.gov

The Ohio Art Company has unveiled one of their Etch A Sketch drawings of President Obama for the Black History Month. Wow, this took someone a lot of time to do it. I could never draw anything on these things.

On the etch is a picture of Obama and in the background you see the United States Flag flying with a picture of Abraham Lincoln.

The artist is George Vlosich III who began drawing on these things at the age of 11.  He’s been working or sharing his drawings with Etch A Sketch ever since. 

Can you picture being this talented? If you can do something like this take a shot of it and send it to me, I’ll gladly post your work right here.

IMG: Newscom.com

I can’t recall who sent this to my youngest but it is definitely one of his favorites. Course for me there is one issue with it…..THE NOISE! This is a yellow dump truck with big wheels and when you push it forward it drives straight by itself, it’ll even roll over items like toy dolls, his sisters,  etc. But it does have a noise too, so you may want to make sure this toy is put up at night so they don’t find it first thing in the morning.

Pros:

-  Toy doesn’t break easily
-  not recalls on it
-  the dump part works
-  it drives by itself
-  no batteries needed

Cons:

- it’s LOUD

I give this one a 4 out of 5 due to the noise. But for entertainment for my little one it gets high marks.

Lego Star Wars is turning 10 this year. Can you believe it? To be honest I thought they’d been around a lot longer then that. But in honor of their celebration they are going to be announcing more.

Here’s a bit of trivia. Did you know that Lego has issued over 180 different Star Wars products during the 10 years? You’ve got starships, big scenes and of course 250 minifigures from the Star Wars series. The big thing in the past year seemed to be the Star Wars Clone Wars, movie and tv cartoon.

What’s to come?

- 3 sets of Classic Trilogy Special Editions
-  Darth Vader: 
-  Battle of Endor: This will have 12 minifigures

Read the rest of this entry »

Fisher-Price online has a toy sale going on but you have to hurry because they are selling out like crazy. There is one toy you won’t be able to get because they have already sold out are: Little People Sweet Valentine.

Sales:

-  Amazing Animals Roll & Roar Habitat: Lion or the Polar Bear $9.99 ($16.00)
-  Amazing animals Hippo or panda $4.99
-  Dress-up adventure Springtime Dora $6.99 ($25.00)
-  Laugh & Learn counting animal friends book $7.99  ($10.00)
-  Little People wedding celebration $9.99 ($15.00)
-  Laugh & Learn teddy’s shapes and colors book $7.99 ($10.00)
- Doodle Pro Designs: Heart or Easter $4.99
- Easy on Infant Carrier $39.99
-  Rescue-a-Friend Baby: Elephant, Spider Monkey, Baby Lion, Baby brown bear, baby maned wolf (each) $14.99

They also have a ton of the swings, Planet Hero characters that range from $6.99-$9.99, there are a few that get up to $24.99.